Match Reports For Week 15 Sat. 9th Dec. Season 2000 - 2001
Mens 1st XI
Staines 6 Old Whitgiftians 2
The start of a hard weekend of hockey, and it was evident on Saturday morning that everyone was already thinking about the Sunday fixture against Epsom. This could go some way to explaining how badly we played in the first half, but it is nice to know that we can play badly and eventually beat a side by four goals. In typical Staines fashion, the match was by no means one way traffic. We did not have the best start when it became apparent that Mashood was not turning up. Stuart by now was on the verge of a coronary, 20 Marlboro Reds had been consumed, and his red face was an indicator that he was slightly agitated, consequently when the game finally began he played like a complete plum. Mashood eventually turned up half way through the first half, pale and weak after a contracting flu while acclimatising to the sub-tropical climate of the Northern Hemisphere, and did little to alter the course of the game. Sid despite applying ‘handle with care’ and ‘fragile’ stickers all over his body, managed to sustain yet another injury. Liam, sporting the same stickers but for different reasons, managed to receive yet another yellow card. Fu managed to injure his knee, the joint finally giving way to the massive pressure applied by his larger than average frame, and Duncan was once again being unnecessarily violent and abusive to both the opposition and his own team mates. It was only when Larry threatened to throw him over the perimeter fence that he climbed back into his shell. It took some harsh words at half time from Rav before the boys started to perform The second half saw the blues take control of the game. JD, glad to have finally found his goal scoring stick, completed his hat trick, adding to the goal scored by the wannabe porn star Servais and the rather lame efforts slotted by Larry and Robbie. Our march up the league has now started to gain momentum, and all were looking forward to the re-arranged fixture against Epsom on the Sunday.
Staines 2 Epsom 2.
Epsom appeared to have adopted a similar policy to Chelsea in terms of their team selection for today’s fixture. With more foreign players than the whole league put together, at times it was more like England V’s South Africa as opposed to Staines V’s Epsom. The game was played at a frantic pace form start to finish, and it was Staines that took an early one goal advantage, thanks to a superb reverse stick strike from Mashood. All got rather frantic for the remainder of the first half, and while we were down to ten men (Duncan for once unfairly dismissed), Epsom managed to draw level. This was to make for a very interesting second half. Adopting an aggressive foreign policy, the defence held fast and Robbie Burrows truly excelled between the sticks, dismissing shots from all angles to keep the scores level. Staines were still creating opportunities at the other end, and half way through the second half we regained the lead. Chopper Watson, as a result of great work rate, stealthily crept in under enemy radar. Then using his limited skill and ability he concentrated his efforts on remaining upright at the back post. So many times have we seen this man embarrass himself in similar positions, and when the cross came in, both players and crowd gasped in anticipation. Rav was seen reaching for a pen to write out his dick of the day vote, whilst Watson remained calm, re-arranged his toupee and calmly slotted the ball home to give Staines the lead once again. Epsom, as you would expect came back fighting, and aided by an umpire who only seemed to be able to raise his hand in one direction, made for an interesting last 15 minutes. Then with two minutes to go, South Africepsom drew level. For once, Robbie Burrows; who had been unbeatable all game failed to dismiss one of the many short corner strikes he had faced. On reflection a draw was a fair result, and enough to ensure us fifth position in the league with all to play for in the second half of the season.
Mens 2nd XI
We did not take our chances against the league leaders….and paid the price.
Chiswick have cleaned up their act (well, mostly) since last season and their
strong line up look firm favourites to win the league and take promotion.
Despite being below full strength due to injuries and non availability, Staines
were certainly up for the game, creating some chances and defending well in
the first half. We conceded a rather “soft” short-corner goal but the deficit
was kept at that level thanks to a breathtaking save from Ian GooksWith only
a minute to half-time, Mark Lees-Low fed Andy Oliver who provided a firmly struck
cross which Roger Greenway, with the open goal before him, uncharacteristically
missed the target.
The second half was well fought but unfortunately the short corners that we
won were wasted because we did not stop the ball properly.With 10 minutes to
go, Chiswick added to the lead through a wickedly deflected shot and they held
out well to the end against strong Staines pressure.
Mark Lees-Low took the Man-of-the-match honours for his tireless and effective
running and Roger Greenway was Dick-of-the-day.
Andrew Oliver
Mens 3rd XI
Staines Men’s 3’s - Match Report 9 December 2000. V. PHC Chiswick 3.
It's not getting any better and it does not help when half the squad are unavailable or borrowed by the 2’s. It appears that the club can barely field four men’s teams. We had been reasonably confident of beating a PHC side that on record were not a particular threat. Young Chris Hine was brought in and chucked in the deep end, fortunately he swam pretty well and turned in a creditable performance. ‘Mad Dog’ Scott ran for miles at left wing demonstrating an exceptional work rate.
We started strongly, the ball barely entering our half for the first ten minutes and then things went pear shaped when PHC had a rare probe at our D. The ball took a ricochet off a stick high into the air, dropping towards the D where it struck the PHC forward on the head. He deftly collected the neatly headed down ball and slipped it into the goal, whilst incredulous Staines players cried foul. Despite protesting his innocence the PHC striker could not hid the lump the size of a duck egg that started swelling on his head. Our Umpire (I believe the Pin-Ball wizard was watching our game) very generously allowed the goal to stand.
PHC only had one player of note and he was being marked by Gizz. Poor Gizz had a torrid time dealing with his opponent and we regularly had to un-knot his legs after each PHC attack. It was this particular PHC player who scored their second goal in the second half. After this event PHC hardly bothered to come into our half, content to play ten centre backs and see out the remaining 20 minutes.
Despite having 70% of the play, other than a bare hand full of half chances, we just did not create enough scoring opportunities. Martin came closest to scoring from one of our rare short corners. There was lots of fumbling around but precious little penetration !
A 0-2 loss was a very disappointing end to this half of the league season. Hero of the day award was a spread vote, Lloyd just shading it from Vince Rowley and Chris Hine. Donkey’s Bum was also a spread vote but Deano just managed to win it due to his expression of frustration concerning the circumstances of the first goal. Perhaps Lassie the Labrador might help us out next game because we appear to be going to the dogs.
Vince Rowley.
Mens 4th XI
High Wycombe 4A v Staines 4 Result: Lost 0-4 Heros: Mike and Nick tied in the voting but Mike got the nod on the 2nd ballot. There is no truth that the Supreme Court have been called. Zeros: Sohail romped away with it this week (see below) - ps he even voted for himself !!! This was the last of our four game run against the top four sides in the league. We had already beaten the leaders, and drawn against both Mill Hill and Boyne Hill sitting in 4th and 3rd respectively. Unfortunately the continuity built up over recent weeks was shattered apart this week - in particular in attack where three players were unavailable and a fourth was elevated to the 3's. Gordon also moved up to the 3's this week, and just to make things worse there were five of the 5th team missing this week - thus making filling the required gaps a little harder. COMPARE this to High Wycombe who have had to make only THREE changes all season !!! To counter the lack of attacking options we opted for a 4-4-2 formation this week, with Mike pushed up into midfield. The forward line of Sohail and Phil just didn't have enough physical presence or the necessary experience to counter the solid High Wycombe back line. Some good link up play from their midfield brought a flurry of short corners early in the 1st half and from one of these they slipped the ball right and then left for an easy goal. At the midpoint of the half we fell 2-0 down to another well-worked goal. In reponse we brought on John Wareham for his 1st ever game for the 4's - and a sign of the times it was at left wing not his normal left back berth. Strangely after Pete made a great save to prevent it going 0-3, we started to get some possession, and made more and more inroads into their half, so at half-time we had some real hope of getting something out of the game. Unfortunately a few minutes into the 2nd half we gave the ball away in midfield and the ball arrived at the top of the D when a fierce drive somehow managed to go through Pete's legs ... an inquiry has been launched into who put the glue on the goal line at half-time! The rest of the game saw Staines mount more and more swift counter-attacks - but all came to nothing as too often the final ball either went astray - or just didn't come. One incident in particular stays in the memory as Sohail raced into their D after some slick inter-passing through the midfield, only fo him to lose the plot and start a Morris dancing spectacular using stick and ball - or was it some urban rain dance. This and a couple of other incidents of "its my ball and I'm keeping it" earned Sohail a well-earned DoD award. One more sweet move by High Wycombe saw a fourth goal. Incredibly given everything we forced more short corners than them in the 2nd half from which Keith shaved the far post. The lack of any potent attack cost us dear on the day - and we all felt as though we would have got something from the game with our first choice side. I dream of fielding the same side two weeks running ... but preferably a 4th XI and not a 5th XI !!!!
Mens 5th XI
No report submitted.
Mens Centurions
No report submitted.
Ladies 1st XI
No report submitted.
Ladies 2nd XI
No report submitted.
Ladies 3rd XI
No report submitted.
Ladies 4th XI